November 30

This morning we went to church with Nonna & Poppa and then to a pancake breakfast. After that, we packed up and headed home. We made a pit stop in Champaign to visit Uncle Stump for awhile at work. We made it home just before the girls' bedtime. They traveled great again! We had a fun trip, but it's always nice to be back home and sleeping in your own bed.

November 29

This afternoon Nonna babysat the girls so Mommy and Daddy could go out for lunch with Tim & Sara (Mommy has been friends with Sara since 5th grade). We lost track of time and were at the restaurant for over 2 hours! After naps we exchanged Christmas gifts with Nonna & Poppa.

Blowing bubbles for the cats

Waiting patiently to open their presents

Julia's Fancy Nancy doll

Nonna reading "Once Upon a Potty" to the girls for the umpteenth time... hard to read it with a straight face with all the "weewee, peepee, and poopoo" talk

November 28

This morning we headed to Nonna's house. We did a little shopping at a thrift store, where Kat proceeded to have a meltdown. She screamed so loud her face was red and she was so angry she was shaking. Mommy took her out of the store and we headed home for a nap. She slept 3 1/2 hours and woke up with a much better disposition. After naps we went bowling. Julia loved it! Kat had fun for about 3 frames and then wanted to snack the rest of the time.

Kat & Poppa Stu

Nonna reading Kat "Once Upon a Potty", or as Kat called it, "The poo poo book"

Potty Training Update: Kat has done great so far! She has maybe one or two wet accidents a day and she even tells us that she wants to go pee pee about half the time. Of course, it's because she wants the candy. She'll sometimes want to go 10 minutes after she just went so she can get the treat. She even once caught herself pooping in her diaper, stopped, and asked to go on potty! We're making progress!

November 27

Update: Yesterday (Wed) we made the drive to IL to see family for Thanksgiving. The girls traveled great in the car. We went to Grandpa Tim and Lulu's first. Aunt Terah and Jordan came over too, and later on in the day we exchanged Christmas gifts.

Taking a "swim" in Grandpa & Lulu's tub

Wearing some of their new gifts

Kat with Terah & Jordan

As soon as Grandpa put on his new hat and apron, Kat sat on his lap like he was Santa

Today the family came over for Thanksgiving. We ate and ate and ate some more. It was yummy! After dinner, Mommy and the girls took a walk around the block to burn off some of the girls energy. Kat has been out of sorts this trip (so far).

Daddy making dumplins

Grandpa and Kat reading the newspaper

Watching the Macy's parade

Elysa putting makeup on Julia

Original Post:

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Birthday Uncle Stump!

November 26

Kat is teething again. All four of her 2 yr-old molars are coming in at once! Fun times!

Julia's "painted" finger nail

Yesterday Mommy & the girls spent the day cleaning the house, doing laundry, packing, and running errands. Kat got some new shoes. She is now wearing the same size as Julia (8). Wonder how long it will be before she's giving her big sister hand-me-downs!?! We measured Julia the other night to see how tall she is (some of the rides at Disney World require you to be 40 inches). In May she was 37 1/2 inches... she is now 39 1/4 inches! She is finally growing some!

Funny Julia Story: Julia tried on Anna's slippers and said, "Mommy, look, they are my age (she doesn't understand sizes)!"

Another Funny Story (they're full of them lately): We were at Target looking for some new socks for Mommy. We didn't get a cart, so all three girls were walking and Kat was lagging behind. She was busy playing with a bra. Julia yelled (pretty loudly), "Kat, put down that boob and come on!"

Not-so-Funny Daddy Story: Does anyone have a metal detector? Daddy lost his wedding ring and he thinks he did it while raking /mowing the yard Sunday. Yikes!

While Mommy was mopping the kitchen, the girls made the chairs into a choo choo train.

November 25

Yesterday was a cold and rainy day. We ran out of milk before lunchtime, but Mommy didn't feel like dragging the rugrats out in the cold so we hibernated (and Daddy picked some up milk on his way home). The girls didn't even change out of their pajamas until 3:30pm. After dinner we went over to Ethan & Emma's house to play for awhile.

Not-so-Funny Julia story: When we got home from Ethan's house, Julia's finger got smashed in the storm door... it looks like she'll end up losing that fingernail. Mommy told her it looks like we painted it (the entire nail is redish/purple) and that calmed her down some. She decided she needs to tell Santa about her injury.

Mommy, inspired by the movie "Little Women", decided to curl the girls' hair by wrapping it in cloth (some of Daddy's old underpants- shhh... don't tell). It didn't quite work, but they look cute with the "cloth" in their hair!

These are supposed to look like Pilgrim hats (they sort of do, right?)...Mommy had planned on this being an activity to do with the girls, but it was really messy, so the girls just got to eat some of the cookies and chocolate chips instead.

This video is Kat's version of "Jesus Loves Me" (she says, "Yes Jesus Bible")

November 24

Yesterday we went to church. After naps (we all took one!) we took advantage of the mild weather and finished raking up the leaves in the yard. Daddy also mowed the grass one last time until Spring. It was nice to get some fresh air after being cooped up inside for a few days with cold weather.

Not-so-Funny Kat Story: Last night Kat pooped in the bathtub. Disgusting! Mommy had to get both girls out of the tub and Daddy rewashed them in the other bathroom so Mommy could clean out the tub and disinfect all the bath toys.

Wearing the 3-D glasses from Saturday's movie

Looks thrilled to have his picture taken, huh?

November 23

Funny Julia Story: Yesterday morning we all watched "Alice in Wonderland" on TV. Julia must think it's called "Allison Wonderland", because she pointed to the screen and said, "Look, there's Allison!" She's decided she wants to be Alice for Halloween next year... wonder how many times that will change before Halloween!?!

Watching "Allison Wonderland"

Yesterday while the girls were napping, Daddy went swimming and Mommy hung up the outside Christmas lights. After naps, Daddy took Julia to see "Bolt" the Disney movie in 3-D. Julia didn't keep her glasses on for long, but she did enjoy the movie. While they were gone, Mommy & Kat went over to Mamaw & Papaw G's house for a visit. Last night Daddy stayed home with the girls and Mommy got to go out with her girlfriends.

Mamaw G & Kat

November 22

Yesterday was too cold to go out and do much of anything so we hibernated inside and had a movie marathon.


We were watching Alvin & the Chipmunks when Julia and Anna decided to get dressed up so they could dance. They had Mommy rewind that part in the movie 3 times.

November 21

Last night we met Travis, Natalie, Jada, & Avi (2 little girls they were babysitting) at Chick-Fil-A for dinner and then went to see Santa in Winter Wonderland. When we got home, Daddy gave them some eggnog. Kat told Mommy that she liked the "egg milk".

Julia trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue

Both girls sat on Santa's lap this year - without crying!

Daddy and Julia shooting Red Ryder BB guns (with a compass in the stock & a thing which tells time). Be careful not to shoot your eye out!

They had more fun picking up the fake snow and piling it on top of the cars

Funny Kat Story: Kat told Santa (sweetly) 3 times "I want elephant". He finally told her, I'll bring you a surprise on Christmas. She thought she'd get one as soon as she asked for one. She didn't realize she'd have to wait.

Funny Julia Story: In the car on the way home from seeing Santa, Julia stated "I'll go to bed and when I wake up, I will get my Ponyville (the toy she asked Santa for)." Daddy told her she'd have to wait until Christmas. It's going to be a long month for the girls!

November 20

Yesterday Mommy and the girls spent quite awhile outside raking leaves. Then last night Daddy took Kat with him to run an errand so Mommy and Julia played board games (hard to play them with Kat around).Tonight we're heading to see Santa Claus!

Caleb, Brady, Julia, & Kat having movie night (Tuesday night)

One of the packages we received in the mail this week had large bubble wrap. By the second video the girls really got into popping the bubbles - they look like Mexican jumping beans!

November 19

It was too cold outside yesterday to finish up the leaves, so we stayed busy in the house. We got our Christmas decorations out and put up the tree (we'll decorate it with Daddy later). We also made brownies and watched a movie. Then last night Mommy babysat for Brady & Caleb. Daddy had a meeting at church, so the girls went to Brady and Caleb's house with Mommy for awhile.

Funny Story: When Mommy was putting the lights on the tree, Kat tried to blow them out like birthday candles.

This morning at about 7am, Mommy was in the kitchen and the girls were in the bedroom giggling and being silly, so Mommy grabbed the camera. *sigh* to have that kind of energy first thing in the morning!

November 18

Here's an interesting video you should check out!

Yesterday we went to the mall. We walked past Santa, but he was napping in his chair (what a great job!)... the girls waved to him anyways. We'll wait to try and sit on his lap when Daddy can go with us. It's good for the girls to see him a couple of times so they'll warm up to the idea of sitting on his lap. Julia did it at 11 months screaming bloody murder and wouldn't have anything to do with him the past 2 years. Maybe this year? Probably not, but it's worth a shot!

Potty training update: While at the mall, Julia kept passing gas (she'll love me for that one later on), so Mommy asked her if she needed to go poop. She said no. Then Kat started saying "need go poopy" over and over. So Mommy took her and, by golly, she pooped! She wore underpants the rest of the day!

Funny Julia story: the other night when Scottie babysat the girls she brought her two boys over, Brady (4) and Caleb (3). Julia got excited when she found out they were coming and said, "I love Brady. He's my husband. Kat, do you want to marry Caleb?" If only it were so easy!

What a lumpy bed!

November 17

Yesterday after we got home from church we had a mealtime battle with Julia. She spent 30 minutes crying over not wanting to take a bite of a potato and carrot. Our mealtime rule is you can't get down from the table without having 1 bite of each thing on your plate. Mommy finally told her that if she didn't eat it, it would be her snack after nap time instead of a fruit snack/chocolate milk... she ate it pretty quickly after that. Then we had about an hour long battle getting both girls down for a nap. They finally slept and for almost 3 hours (Mommy napped too)! The evening went much better. All in all it was a nice, relaxing weekend. We've been pretty busy lately and with the holiday season approaching, it was nice to have some down time.

"Hello"

November 16

Yesterday was a truly lazy Saturday. It was cold and rainy outside, so we stayed inside and laid around most of the day (other than Daddy leaving to swim for awhile). The girls never got dressed or had their hair combed! Truly lazy - and it was great!

November 15

Yesterday we had friends from our Mom's Group come over for a play date. Last night Mommy & Daddy had a date night. We went out to eat, got the girls' Christmas presents, and then went to a 10 o'clock (pm!) movie. We didn't get home until after midnight... and of course, the girls were up at 7am. Daddy got up and got them breakfast and let Mommy sleep until 8:30! Thanks Daddy! Mommy and the girls made Christmas ornaments this morning and we all just laid around and watched TV.

One Year Ago...

Kat was alot shorter than Julia... soon she'll be putting Julia in a choke hold! Now she's only 2 or 3 inches shorter and about a half size smaller in shoes.

Kat was still a messy eater!

November 14

Last night we hung out at home and Mommy & the girls made pumpkin bread and banana bread (from scratch, aren't you impressed?) for our Mom's Group play date this morning. Last night the girls wanted to watch Star Wars, so of course Julia had to dress up like Princess Leia.

Macie (Anna's big sister) & Kat - Kat LOVES Macie!

Princess Leia & Kat (wearing Daddy's socks - and underpants!)

Potty Training Update: Three days ago Mommy put Kat in underpants and she peed in them twice within the first 1 1/2 hours so we went back to diapers and she kept peeing in them all day. So Mommy backed off on potty training. Then yesterday she pooped in the potty again and asked for underpants. So after nap she got a pair of underpants and staid in them until bedtime. A couple of times she even told us she had to go, and she would run to the potty and pull her own underpants down and go! Now it seems she's more ready for potty training than Mommy is (to follow through with it!).